Switch-gate for conduits.



PATENTED AUG. l5, 1905.

A., W. BANISTBR. SWITCH GATE FUR CONDUITE.

.PPLIOATION FILED MAB. 13, 1505.

ARTHUR W. BANISTER, OF BUTUN, MASAUHETT@ No. "remesa Specification of Letters Tatemt.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed March 13, 1905. Serial No. 249,971.

To (t/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. BANisrrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Switch-Gates for Conduits, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like 'figures on the drawings representing like parts.

In making conduits, especially those used in pneumatic conveying' systems, it is customary to employ a switch-gate at the points where the conduit opens into or connects with branch conduits, said switch-gate being' constructed to direct the material in the conduit into one or the other of the branches or to divide the material and direct a portion into each branch. As commonly constructed these switch-gates are operated by an arm or arms fast on the pivotal shaft of the gate, and connected to the arms are chains or pull devices by means of which the gate may be swung into its various positions. Vith this construction it is customary to attach the chains to hooks, nails, or other similarl devices in order to lock the gate in any intermediate position, for unless the gate is thus locked it will automatically assume either one or the other of its two extreme positions. i. have improved this ordinary type of switch-gate by providing one which is self-locking, so that it will be automatically held in any intermediate position without the use of special locking devices.

ln accordance with my invention I apply to a shaft of a switch-gate a worm-gear which meshes with a worm mounted in a casing exterior to the conduit, said worm having rig'id therewith asproclzet-wheel over which an operating sprocket-chain passes. The worm,- and-gear construction makes the switch a selflocking one, as the worm locks the switchgate against movement in any position of the latter.

Referring to the drawings, Figure Il is a side view of a section of a conduit having branches leading therefrom and having my improved switch-gate applied thereto, said view showing the easing removed. Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1, showing the. casing in place and in section. Tig. 2.

3 designates a section of a conduit which Fig. 3 is a section on the line a: a',

is herein shown as leading into two branches t and 5, which branches may lead to different locations. Pivoted at the crotch of the branches is a switch-gate 6, said gate adapted to close either branch, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. @aid gate is mounted on a pivotal shaft 7, carried by suitable bearings at the crotch of the branches. Said shaft extends beyond the side of the conduit and has fast thereon a wornrgear 8, which meshes with a worm 9 on a worm-shaft 10. Said shaft 10 is journaled in suitable bearings 11 and 12, carried by a plate 30, fast to the side of the conduit, the bearing 11 preferably being slotted, so as to facilitate the removal of the wormshaft. Fast to the worm-shaft is a sprocket-wheel 13, with which cooperates an operating sprocketn chain 14, by means of which chain the gate 6 may be swung into any desired position. Inclosing the gearing above referred to is a casing 15, which is detachably secured to the con duit in any suitable ways-as, for instance, by means of a securing-screw 16, which passes through the side of the casing and into the bearing 11. Vhen the casing is in position, the shaft 10 abuts against the end walls thereof, and said walls of the casing therefore serve to hold the worm-shaft from longitudinal move* ment. The switch-gate 6 can be readily adjusted into any position by means of the operating-chain 11i, and when in any position it is locked automatically by reason ofthe wormand-gear construction. It will be noted that the casing 15 can be very readily removed, and as said casing holds the worm-shaft 10 in position removal of the casing permits the ready removal of said shaft.

Various changes in the construction of the device may be made without departing from the invention.

Having described my invention, what l' claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Yln a device of the class described, a conduit having' branches, a pivoted switch-gate to control said branches, a worm-gear rigid. with the gate, a worm-shaft meshing with said gear, a sprocket-wheel on the worm-shaft, a sprocketchain engaging the sprocket-wheel and passing' through the casing and a casing inclosing said gears, the ends of the wormshaft engaging the opposite walls of the casing.

Q. it. conduit provided with branches, a

switch-gate pvotaily mounted at the crotch In testimony whereofhavesigned my name of the branches, a Worm-gear rigid With the to this speeieation in the presence of two sub- ,qate and exterior to the Conduit, a Worm-shaft serihing Witnesses.

having a Worm thereon engaging the Worm- T gea-r and a casing inelosing said gears, the ARTHUR n BANISTER' ends of the shaft engaging the opposite Walls Vitnesses:

i of the easing whereby said casing holds the LoUIs C. SMITH, shaft in position.

MARGARET A. DUNN. 

